Isaac D. landis of th 9th Pennsylvania Calvary, 3 ½"pp., Camp 9th Penna Vet. Vol. Cav. Lexington, NC, May 19, 1865, to his father. Tear on last page. After fighting at Averysboro three days earlier where the regiment had 5 kiled and 15 wounded, Landis writes in part: "....Well I suppose by this time the last of the Confederate Armys have capitulated and we have conquered that peace for which we have so long struggled. How much better it is thus than if we had made some ungracious terms with the traitorous Rebels as the Copperheads of the north would have willingly have done. We have now established our powers and let foreign powers beware that they do not suffer for their shallow neutrality policy. I think Louis Napoleon is already beginning to shake in his shoes. It will not be long until it will be dangerous for any vessel floating the French Ensign to sail upon the face of the ocean. Gene Ortega (Mexican) is said now to be isuing letters of Marque and Reprisal to Privateers and according to the English and French views of neutrality. We can build all the Privateers that may be required to destroy the entire French Navy of course by private enterprise. I think the best thing the French can do is to evacuate Mexico and pay us back what they owe us for damage on our shipping. We have had northern papers....from which we can see that Sherman has left Richmond at the head of his army to march homeward and will be greeted and honored by all for their glorious achivements. But why is this Div of Calvary, who led the Van of that great army through Georgia and the Carolinas, not on the advance now to reap the laurels which are so justly due to us....Sheridens Calvary who have been pampered up in the Army of the Potomac, and knew of our hardships except when on a raid and in their last battles, were allowed the honor of escorting the best army the world ever knew, and thereby be honored as belonging to it. I think great injustice has been done us in this instance as I deem it entirely unnecessary to have calvary here. We have not made an arrest except Go v Vance, and indeed there is no occasion as I never saw to return their allegiance as those of this state. The principle of Rebellion is broken and the Slaves are free which cause the people change on the leaders of the rebellion. As a man, leading politician, remarked yesterday that the Confederates freed the Slaves and the Federals freed the people....I feel very badly about no being allowed to accompany the army with which we have been so gloriously identified for so long a time and which has been the great cause of the fall of this Rebellion when it did....". The Second French Empire remained officially neutral throughout the American Civil War and never recognized the Confederate States of America. The United States had warned that recognition meant war. France was reluctant to act without British collaboration, and the British rejected intervention. Emperor Napoleon III realized that a war with the U.S. without allies "would spell disaster" for France. However, the textile industry needed cotton, and Napoleon III had imperial ambitions in Mexico which could be greatly aided by the Confederacy. At the same time, other French political leaders, such as Foreign Minister Édouard Thouvenel, favored the United States. A most interesting letter. Est. $100.00-$200.00